Protein kinase C mediates up-regulation of urokinase and its receptor in the migrating keratinocytes of wounded cultures, but urokinase is not required for movement across a substratum in vitro

Protein kinase C-δ mediates sepsis-induced activation of complement 5a and urokinase-type plasminogen activator signaling in macrophages

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Activations of the complement C5a (C5a) and the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) are commonly seen together during sepsis. However, the mechanism linking these two important pathways remains elusive.

MATERIAL, METHODS AND TREATMENT

We used the C57BL/6 J mice model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation puncture (CLP) procedure, injected anti-C5aR or rottlerin through the tail vein to neutralize C5aR or PKC-δ, and then isolated peritoneal macrophages. Total RNA was isolated from the cells and analyzed by quantitative PCR.

RESULTS

Our study revealed that neutralizing C5aR markedly inhibited sepsis-induced uPA receptor (uPAR) expression and its downstream signaling in macrophage. Similarly, neutralizing uPAR suppressed sepsis activation of C5a signaling. Importantly, inhibition of PKC-δ largely blocked sepsis-induced expression of C5aR and uPAR.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates a crosstalk between the complement C5a signaling and the fibrinolytic uPA pathways, which may depend on each other to maintain their expression and signaling, and reveals a central role of PKC-δ in mediating sepsis-induced activation of these pathways.

Current understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms in fibroplasia and angiogenesis during acute wound healing

Cutaneous wound healing ultimately functions to facilitate barrier restoration following injury-induced loss of skin integrity. It is an evolutionarily conserved, multi-cellular, multi-molecular process involving co-ordinated inter-play between complex signalling networks. Cellular proliferation is recognised as the third stage of this sequence. Within this phase, fibroplasia and angiogenesis are co-dependent processes which must be successfully completed in order to form an evolving extracellular matrix and granulation tissue. The resultant structures guide cellular infiltration, differentiation and secretory profile within the wound environment and consequently have major influence on the success or failure of wound healing. This review integrates in vitro, animal and human in vivo studies, to provide up to date descriptions of molecular and cellular interactions involved in fibroplasia and angiogenesis. Significant molecular networks include adhesion molecules, proteinases, cytokines and chemokines as well as a plethora of growth factors. These signals are produced by, and affect behaviour of, cells including fibroblasts, fibrocytes, keratinocytes, endothelial cells and inflammatory cells resulting in significant cellular phenotypic and functional plasticity, as well as controlling composition and remodelling of structural proteins including collagen and fibronectin. The interdependent relationship between angiogenesis and fibroplasia relies on dynamic reciprocity between cellular components, matrix proteins and bioactive molecules. Unbalanced regulation of any one component can have significant consequences resulting in delayed healing, chronic wounds or abnormal scar formation. Greater understanding of angiogenic and fibroplastic mechanisms underlying chronic wound pathogenesis has identified novel therapeutic targets and enabled development of improved treatment strategies including topical growth factors and skin substitutes.

Mice deficient in urokinase-type plasminogen activator have delayed healing of tympanic membrane perforations

Mice deficient in plasminogen, the precursor of plasmin, show completely arrested healing of tympanic membrane (TM) perforations, indicating that plasmin plays an essential role in TM healing. The activation of plasminogen to plasmin is performed by two plasminogen activators (PAs), urokinase-type PA (uPA) and tissue-type PA (tPA). To elucidate the functional roles of PAs in the healing of TM perforations, we investigated the phenotypes of single gene-deficient mice lacking uPA (uPA(-/-)) or tPA (tPA(-/-)) after TM perforation. Delayed healing of TM perforations was observed in uPA(-/-) mice but not tPA(-/-) mice. The migration of keratinocytes was clearly delayed and seemed to be misoriented in uPA(-/-) mice. Furthermore, fibrin deposition and the inflammatory response were persistent in these mice. Our findings demonstrate that uPA plays a role in the healing of TM perforations. The observed phenotypes in uPA(-/-) mice are most likely due to the reduced generation of plasmin.

Translational research on u-PAR

The urokinase receptor (u-PAR) is one of the most critical molecules in migration, invasion, intravasation, and metastasis and is also a key regulator between tumour cell proliferation and dormancy. It is overexpressed in most human solid cancer types, which has led to increasing translational and clinical research on this molecule. The current review discusses in particular the in vivo, translational, and putative clinical relevance of u-PAR in the context of this latest development. It outlines how u-PAR is already being used and might increasingly be applied as a diagnostic tool, for example, in distinguishing benign from malignant neoplasms, as a molecular marker for predicting clinical response to chemotherapy or novel targeted therapy, and finally as a promising tool for the development of novel cancer therapeutics.

Molecular regulation of an invasion-related molecule – options for tumour staging and clinical strategies

This review provides a summary of the European Association for Cancer Research Award Lecture, presented at the ECCO13 meeting in Paris in November 2005. It is a brief overview on the biological and clinical relevance of the urokinase receptor (u-PAR), an essential molecule to promote invasive and metastatic tumour phenotype and shown to be associated with early relapse and poor prognosis in many different types of cancers. The review summarizes the most important transcriptional mechanisms regulating u-PAR gene, and will focus on the differential binding of transcription factors to u-PAR promoter elements from studies in resected tumour and normal tissues of colorectal and gastric cancer patients. These studies conducted by our group may help to understand transcriptional mechanisms, which are employed to promote invasion and metastasis, in subpopulations of cancer patients. Such studies could lead to a more target-oriented patient selection and therapy against transcriptional and oncogeneic regulators in cancer.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) is present in normal human conjunctiva

The purpose was to characterize plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) expression in normal human conjunctiva in vivo and in vitro. PAI-2 antigen was assayed by immunostaining and immunoblotting of extracts from normal human conjunctival epithelial lysates and conditioned media (CM) of cultured human conjunctival keratinocytes. Immunostaining of normal human conjunctival epithelia revealed that PAI-2 was found consistently in the superficial keratinocytes and, in some biopsies, also in the lower keratinocyte layers. In all cases, PAI-2 was concentrated around the cell periphery. In extracts of conjunctival epithelia and cultured conjunctival keratinocytes, PAI-2 had an apparent molecular weight of 45 kDa, consistent with the non-glycosylated form. The majority of PAI-2, approximately 90%, was cell associated, however, a small percentage of PAI-2 was released into the CM in a linear manner with time. PAI-2 in the conditioned medium had a higher molecular weight, consistent with a glycosylated form. Conjunctival PAI-2 was active, as shown by its ability to complex with a target enzyme, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). Although PAI-2 was detectable both in monolayer (i.e., relatively undifferentiated) conjunctival keratinocyte cultures as well as in stratified (i.e., more differentiated) cultures, steady state levels of PAI-2 were greater in the latter. PAI-2 is constitutively expressed by normal human conjunctival epithelial cells. The expression of PAI-2 throughout all epithelial layers in some biopsies of conjunctiva in vivo contrasts with the previously established distribution of PAI-2 in corneal epithelia, where it is present exclusively in the most superficial (i.e. most highly differentiated) cells. The role of PAI-2 in either tissue is unclear. However, we speculate that its distinct distribution in conjunctival versus corneal epithelia underscores inherent differences between these tissues, and may reflect specific functions of this proteinase inhibitor in both conjunctival and corneal epithelial cells.

Molecular regulation of urokinase-receptor gene expression as one potential concept for molecular staging and therapy

The urokinase-receptor (u-PAR) is a central molecule of invasion and metastasis promoting plasminogen-dependent extracellular matrix degradation in diverse carcinoma types such as gastric or colon cancer. Overexpression of u-PAR has been reported to occur mainly at the transcriptional level in malignant cells, and has been shown to indicate a poor clinical prognosis of cancer patients. This review will give an overview on experimental findings on u-PAR and its function, molecular mechanisms of its regulation, and its impact for future clinical decision planning and potential therapeutic concepts.

Transcriptional regulation of the urokinase receptor (u-PAR)--a central molecule of invasion and metastasis

The phenomenon of tumor-associated proteolysis has been acknowledged as a decisive step in the progression of cancer. This short review focuses on the urokinase receptor (u-PAR), a central molecule involved in tumor-associated invasion and metastasis, and summarizes the transcriptional regulation of u-PAR. The urokinase receptor (u-PAR) is a heavily glycosylated cell surface protein and binds the serine protease urokinase specifically and with high affinity. It consists of three similar cysteine-rich repeats and is anchored to the cell membrane via a GPI-anchor. The u-PAR gene comprises 7 exons and is located on chromosome 19q13. Transcriptional activation of the u-PAR promoter region can be induced by binding of transcription factors (Sp1, AP-1, AP-2, NF-kappa B). One current study gives an example for transcriptional downregulation of u-PAR through a PEA3/ets transcriptional silencing element. Knowledge of the molecular regulation of this molecule in tumor cells could be very important for diagnosis and therapy in the near future.

Strict correlation between uPAR and plakoglobin expression in pemphigus vulgaris

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have reported nuclear delocalization of plakoglobin in acantholytic pemphigus vulgaris cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of plakoglobin in the pathogenesis of acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and its relation with the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plakoglobin and uPAR expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 22 cases of PV at various stages of the disease, and as controls in 18 specimens of skin/oral mucosa from healthy patients.

RESULTS

Healthy skin/normal oral mucosa showed strong plakoglobin expression in the basal and spinous layers with prevalent cellular membrane distribution; the intensity of staining progressively decreased toward the superficial layers of the epithelium. In PV patients, a progressive displacement of the plakoglobin signal toward the nucleus was found in 18/22 of the cases. Healthy skin/normal oral mucosa showed low uPAR expression with prevalent cellular membrane distribution. In the PV patients, strong uPAR expression was present in the acantholytic cells in 16/22 of the cases. There was direct correlation (p < 0.05) between the uPAR expression and nuclear plakoglobin.

CONCLUSIONS

The uPAR overexpression in acantholytic PV may be considered a direct consequence of plakoglobin abnormal distribution. Nuclear delocalization of plakoglobin, a direct consequence of plakoglobin-Dsg-3 dissociation induced by PV IgG, probably induces uPAR overexpression. This evidence suggests a central role for plakoglobin in PV pathogenesis because of its delocalization toward the nucleus, which is the probable cause of the uPAR gene expression.

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor BB-3103 unlike the serine proteinase inhibitor aprotinin abrogates epidermal healing of human skin wounds ex vivo

Several matrix metalloproteinases and serine proteinases are upregulated in migrating keratinocytes during cutaneous wound repair. Single cell culture studies indicate the necessity for matrix metalloproteinases but not for serine proteinases in keratinocyte locomotion. To account for epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, an ex vivo human skin wound model was used to investigate the contribution of matrix metalloproteinases and serine proteinases to wound healing by treatment with broad-spectrum inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (BB-3103) or serine proteinases (aprotinin). Human skin explants with circular 3 mm superficial defects were incubated in culture medium without (controls) or with the proteinase inhibitors for 7 d. BB-3103 abrogated epithelialization (p < 0.001), whereas aprotinin-treated wounds and controls were covered with new epithelium. Lack of epithelialization was unlikely due to cytotoxicity because the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor did neither influence viability of cultured epidermal keratinocytes nor apoptosis in wounds. Involvement of specific matrix metalloproteinases in epithelialization was analyzed by gelatin zymography, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Wound healing was accompanied by active matrix metalloproteinase-1 and increased active matrix metalloproteinase-2 but irrespectively of active matrix metalloproteinase-9. BB-3103 blocked activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 but not of matrix metalloproteinase-1. Active matrix metalloproteinase-2 localized solely to the dermis, whereas matrix metalloproteinase-9 was consistently found in new epithelium. Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase was undetectable in wound keratinocytes. BB-3103 and aprotinin reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha in media but did not appreciably alter amounts of other soluble regulators of matrix metalloproteinases and epithelialization. Our findings demonstrate that keratinocyte migration is associated with active matrix metalloproteinase-2 but occurs independently of serine proteinases and active matrix metalloproteinase-9 in fibrin-deficient skin wound healing.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate induces plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 expression in epidermal keratinocytes in vivo and in vitro

The detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate is a well-known inducer of irritant contact dermatitis. In this study we show that sodium dodecyl sulfate induces the serine proteinase inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2, in epidermal keratinocytes. The enhancement in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 mRNA and antigen is observed both when sodium dodecyl sulfate is applied topically to normal human skin as well as when it is added to the growth medium of cultured human keratinocytes. In vitro, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 mRNA is increased within 4-8 h after addition of the detergent, and the increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 antigen occurs slightly later. The enhancing effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 is not related to nonspecific cell lysis nor is it secondary to induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Similarities between our in vitro and in vivo findings lead us to hypothesize that sodium dodecyl sulfate may exert its effect on epidermal plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 via interaction with the keratinocyte.

Differential effects of acute and chronic wound fluids on urokinase-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, and tissue-type plasminogen activator in cultured human keratinocytes and fibroblasts

The effect of wound fluids collected from acute well-healing wounds and chronic nonhealing venous leg ulcers on the plasminogen activation system of keratinocyte and fibroblast cell cultures was studied in a simplified wound-healing model. Acute wound fluid was collected from donor sites of split skin grafts at different time points representing the progressive healing of the wound. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator, tissue-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 expression were studied. The methods used were immunocapture assay and immunocytochemistry. The results indicated that the later the acute wound fluid was collected, the greater the urokinase-type plasminogen activator and the lower the plasminogen inhibitor-1 level in treated cells. In contrast, the level of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor remained stable irrespective of wound fluid treatment. Immunostaining for urokinase-type plasminogen activator of acute wound fluid-treated cells showed a disseminated punctate pattern over the cell surface, but with chronic wound fluid, urokinase-type plasminogen activator was localized to focal contacts. Our findings support the view that in the acute wound environment the plasminogen activator system is proteolytically active and that in chronic leg ulcers urokinase-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor may also be organized for cell adhesion and migration.

Antisense targeting of c-fos transcripts inhibits serum- and TGF-beta 1-stimulated PAI-1 gene expression and directed motility in renal epithelial cells

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), the major regulator of pericellular plasmin generation, and the c-FOS transcription factor are expressed by migrating cells in response to monolayer wounding. Induced c-fos and PAI-1 transcripts were evident within 30 min and 2 h, respectively, of scrape injury to confluent, growth-arrested, cultures of NRK epithelial cells. Since c-FOS/AP-1 DNA-binding activity modulates both basal and inducible modes of PAI-1 gene control, and AP-1 motif binding factors were present in quiescent as well as stimulated NRK cells, a model of directionally regulated cell movement (migration into scrape-denuded "wounds") was used to assess the consequences of c-fos transcript targeting on PAI-1 expression and cell motility. This in vitro model of epithelial injury closely approximated in vivo wound repair with regard to the spatial and temporal emergence of cohorts of cells involved in migration, proliferation, and PAI-1 expression. Stable cell lines (NRKsof) were generated by transfection of parental NRK cells with a c-fos antisense expression vector. Serum-inducible c-fos transcripts and PAI-1 protein levels were significantly attenuated in NRKsof transfectants relative to parental controls or cells transfected with a neo(R) vector without the sof insert. NRKsof cells had a markedly impaired ability to repair scrape-generated monolayer wounds under basal, serum-stimulated, or TGF-beta 1-supplemented culture conditions. Since injury closure and PAI-1 induction were attenuated in c-fos antisense cells, it was important to clarify the role of specific AP-1 sites in serum-mediated PAI-1 transcription. PAI-1 "promoter"-driven CAT reporter expression was assessed within the real time of serum-stimulated PAI-1 induction. A segment of the PAI-1 promoter corresponding to nucleotides -533 to -764 upstream of the transcription start site functioned as a prominent serum-responsive region (SSR). The 9-fold increase in CAT mRNA levels attained with the -533 to -764 bp PAI-1 SRR ligated to a minimal PAI-1 promoter (i.e., 162 bp of 5' flanking sequence containing the basal transcription complex) closely approximated the serum-induced transcriptional activity of a fully responsive (1,230 bp) PAI-1 promoter construct as well as the endogenous PAI-1 gene. AP-1-like, CTF/NF-1-like, and AP-2 sites were identified in the SRR. The SRR AP-1 motif was homologous to the sequence TGACACA that mapped between nucleotides -740 and -703 in the human PAI-1 gene, a region essential for growth factor-inducible PAI-1 transcription. While the functionality of this AP-1 site in wound-regulated PAI-1 synthesis remains to be determined, antisense c-fos transcripts effectively attenuated PAI-1 induction and basal as well as growth factor-stimulated cell locomotion, indicating that expression of both the PAI-1 and c-fos genes is necessary for wound-initiated NRK cell migration.

Two distinct signaling pathways in hair cycle induction: Stat3-dependent and -independent pathways

The hair follicle is an epidermal derivative that undergoes cycles of growth, involution, and rest. The hair cycle has well-orchestrated kinetics regulated by interactions between mesenchymal and epithelial cells, although the intracellular signals remain unclear. We previously established keratinocyte-specific Stat3-disrupted mice, by which we demonstrated that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is required for wound healing and anagen progression in the hair cycle. Growth factor-dependent migration of Stat3-disrupted keratinocytes was severely impaired, suggesting that not only wound healing but also telogen-to-anagen progression required organized keratinocyte migration in response to mesenchymal stimuli. In the present study, to examine whether Stat3 activation in keratinocytes is a prerequisite for hair cycle progression, we applied methods for experimental anagen induction to Stat3-disrupted mice. It was demonstrated that anagen was successfully induced in Stat3-disrupted as well as wild-type mice by chemical or mechanical stimulation, i.e. , by topical application of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or by hair plucking, respectively. This result indicated that anagen in these methods occurred in the absence of Stat3. Furthermore, PMA stimulated the migration of Stat3-disrupted keratinocytes in vitro, supporting a hypothesis that the protein kinase C (PKC) and Stat3 pathways occur independently in the postnatal anagen induction. Both Stat3-dependent and -independent migration of keratinocytes was inhibited by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, wortmannin. Therefore, we infer that entry into anagen is mediated by at least two distinct signaling pathways: Stat3-dependent pathway for spontaneous hair cycling and Stat3-independent (probably PKC-dependent) pathway for exogenously induced hair cycling, whereas both pathways require PI3K activation.

Targeted inhibition of wound-induced PAI-1 expression alters migration and differentiation in human epidermal keratinocytes

In the adult epidermis, keratinocytes do not normally express the type-1 inhibitor of plasminogen activator (PAI-1). Basal epithelial cell-specific PAI-1 synthesis, however, accompanies epidermal wound repair in vivo in which PAI-1 transcripts and immunoreactive protein are confined to epithelial cells in the migrating tongue and the hyperproliferative zone. A model system using human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) was developed to assess functional relationships between epithelial growth state transitions and PAI-1 expression. PAI-1 synthesis was maximal in low population density, exponentially growing HaCaT cultures; relative PAI-1 mRNA and protein levels progressively declined as cells attained, and were maintained in, a postconfluent condition. While the fraction of PAI-1(+) keratinocytes remained stable (at approximately 85-90% of the population) throughout the culture period, both PAI-1 mRNA abundance and mean cell-associated PAI-1 protein declined by >90% during prolonged (i.e., 8-day) growth arrest. Similar to epidermal trauma in vivo, scrape wounding of HaCaT monolayers resulted in the rapid and location-specific induction of PAI-1 protein (an increase of 11- to 16-fold relative to unwounded cultures) in cells immediately bordering the injury site. PAI-1 expression was evident in keratinocytes that comprised the opposed migrating fronts and remained elevated until wound closure. Down-regulation of PAI-1 synthesis in HaCaT cells transfected with an inducible LacSwitch-based antisense vector system markedly impaired both the rate and the extent of wound closure. All injuries created in antisense PAI-1 monolayers remained unhealed at day 8 postinjury compared to the 3-day complete repair typical of control cultures. Vector-driven modulation of PAI-1 synthesis was also associated with an increase in the percentage of suprabasal-type keratinocytes within the wound field. PAI-1 expression by migrating HaCaT cells appears necessary to maintain the basal epidermal phenotype and/or appropriate cell-to-substrate adhesion during injury repair.

Thrombospondin-1 suppresses wound healing and granulation tissue formation in the skin of transgenic mice

The function of the endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in tissue repair has remained controversial. We established transgenic mice with targeted overexpression of TSP-1 in the skin, using a keratin 14 expression cassette. TSP-1 transgenic mice were healthy and fertile, and did not show any major abnormalities of normal skin vascularity, cutaneous vascular architecture, or microvascular permeability. However, healing of full-thickness skin wounds was greatly delayed in TSP-1 transgenic mice and was associated with reduced granulation tissue formation and highly diminished wound angiogenesis. Moreover, TSP-1 potently inhibited fibroblast migration in vivo and in vitro. These findings demonstrate that TSP-1 preferentially interfered with wound healing-associated angiogenesis, rather than with the angiogenesis associated with normal development and skin homeostasis, and suggest that therapeutic application of angiogenesis inhibitors might potentially be associated with impaired wound vascularization and tissue repair.

Effect of hyperthermia on the viability and the fibrinolytic potential of human cancer cell lines

The effects of heat treatment on the viability and fibrinolytic potential of four cultured human carcinoma cell lines, fibrosarcoma cells (HT-1080), lung adenocarcinoma cells with highly metastatic potential (HAL-8), melanoma cells (Bowes) and osteosarcoma cells (NY), determined by measuring their levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and its specific receptor (u-PAR), were investigated by comparing them with those of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs incubated at 43 degrees C for 120 min exhibited no decrease in viability but exhibited an increase in both u-PA and u-PAR. HT-1080 and HAL-8 showed a moderately high heat-resistance (viability, 60-90%) that correlated with the reduction of u-PAR but not u-PA. On the other hand, Bowes and NY cells, with poor heat-resistance (viability, 20-50%), exhibited stronger cell-associated u-PA activity when they survived at 43 degrees C for 120 min. Since the u-PA/u-PAR system is directly involved in the invasiveness and metastatic potential of carcinoma cells, hyperthermia would alter the biological activity of these carcinoma cells.

Evidence for intracellular cleavage of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) in normal epidermal keratinocytes

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) is a serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin), present in high quantities in stratified squamous epithelia. Detergent extracts of human epidermis or cultured keratinocytes contain primarily active, nonglycosylated PAI-2. In keratinocytes, the vast majority of PAI-2 is retained within the cell, supporting the hypothesis that PAI-2 may serve specific intracellular function(s) through interaction with an unknown cytoplasmic proteinase. During interaction with the target proteinase, cleavage of PAI-2 within its reactive site loop leads to the formation of a more stable, "relaxed" conformation (PAI-2r). Using a monoclonal antibody specific for PAI-2r, we demonstrate here that PAI-2r is present in keratinocytes of the granular and basal layers of normal human epidermis. In addition, PAI-2r is detectable in cultured human epidermal keratinocytes, where it is concentrated in a detergent-insoluble fraction within differentiating cells. These data provide evidence for the presence of an endogenous, keratinocyte-derived proteinase that constitutively cleaves intracellular PAI-2 in normal human epidermal keratinocytes. Cleavage of PAI-2 by this proteinase may reflect specific intracellular action of PAI-2 in normal cells. Finally, we demonstrate that a commercially available anti-PAI-2 monoclonal antibody (#3750, American Diagnostica, Greenwich, CT), under native experimental conditions, preferentially recognizes the uncleaved, active form of PAI-2 and does not efficiently detect PAI-2r.

PAI-1 gene expression is regionally induced in wounded epithelial cell monolayers and required for injury repair

Induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), a major negative regulator of pericellular plasmin generation, accompanies wound repair in vitro and in vivo. Since transcriptional control of the PAI-1 gene is superimposed on a growth state-dependent program of cell activation (Kutz et al., 1997, J Cell Physiol 170:8-18), it was important to define potentially functional relationships between PAI-1 synthesis and subpopulations of cells that emerge during the process of injury repair in T2 renal epithelial cells. Specific cohorts of migratory and proliferating cells induced in response to monolayer trauma were spatially as well as temporally distinct. Migrating cells did not divide in the initial 12 to 20 h postinjury. After 24 h, S-phase cells were generally restricted to a region 1 to 2 mm from, and parallel to, the wound edge. Proliferation of wound bed cells occurred subsequent to wound closure, whereas the distal contact-inhibited monolayer remained generally quiescent. Hydroxyurea blockade indicated, however, that proliferation (most likely of cells immediately behind the motile "tongue") was necessary for maintenance of cell-to-cell cohesiveness in the advancing front, although the ability to migrate was independent of proliferation. PAI-1 mRNA expression was rapidly up-regulated in response to wounding with inductive kinetics approximating that of serum-stimulated cultures. Differential harvesting of T2 cell subpopulations, based on proximity to the injury site, prior to Northern assessments of PAI-1 mRNA abundance indicated that PAI-1 transcripts were restricted to cells immediately bordering the wound or actively migrating and not expressed by cells in the distal contact-inhibited monolayer regions. Such cell location-specific distribution of PAI-1-producing cells was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. PAI-1 synthesis in cells that locomoted into the wound field continued until injury closure. Down-regulation of PAI-1 synthesis and matrix deposition in renal epithelial cells, stably transfected with a PAI-1 antisense expression vector, significantly impaired wound closure. Transfection of the wound repair-deficient R/A epithelial line with a sense PAI-1 expression construct restored both approximately normal levels of PAI-1 synthesis and repair ability. These data indicate that PAI-1 induction is an early event in creation of the wound-activated phenotype and appears to participate in the regulation of renal epithelial cell motility during in vitro injury resolution.

Bone extracellular matrix stimulates invasiveness of estrogen-responsive human mammary MCF-7 cells

Bone is the most frequent site of metastasis in breast cancer. This causes destructive osteolytic lesions. To achieve metastasis to bone, breast cancer cells must proliferate in a new microenvironment, arrest on extracellular matrix and invade. Breast cancer cells progress in the invasive processes only if they destroy bone with the assistance of osteoclasts. In this work, we present data suggesting that MCF-7 cells, an estradiol receptor-positive cell line that exhibits modest invasive capacity, proliferate in the presence of soluble factors secreted by the osteogenic cell line SaOS-2. The cells acquire a more aggressive phenotype when cultured on an extracellular matrix produced by the same osseous cell line. Acquisition of the invasive phenotype appears to be related to the capacity of bone extracellular matrix to induce the expression of urokinase-like plasminogen activator by MCF-7 cells, which is specific for MCF-7 cells, given that MDA-231 cells, an estradiol receptor-negative and more aggressive cell line, did not show significant changes when cultured in the presence of soluble and insoluble bone factors.

Characterization of cell deformation and migration using a parametric estimation of image motion

This paper deals with the spatio-temporal analysis of two-dimensional deformation and motion of cells from time series of digitized video images. A parametric motion approach based on an affine model has been proposed for the quantitative characterization of cellular movements in different experimental areas of cellular biology including spontaneous cell deformation, cell mitosis, individual cell migration and collective migration of cell populations as cell monolayer. The accuracy and robustness of the affine model parameter estimation, which is based on a multiresolution algorithm, has been established from synthesized image sequences. A major interest of our approach is to follow with time the evolution of a few number of parameters characteristic of cellular motion and deformation. From the time-varying eigenvalues of the affine model square matrix, a precise quantification of the cell pseudopodial activity, as well as of cell division has been performed. For migrating cells, the motion quantification confirms that cell body deformation has a leading role in controlling nucleus displacement, the nucleus itself undergoing a larger rotational motion. At the cell population level, image motion analysis of in vitro wound healing experiments quantifies the heterogeneous cell populations dynamics.

Urokinase is a positive regulator of epidermal proliferation in vivo

The epidermis is a self-renewing tissue that must maintain a basal proliferative rate as well as respond to various perturbing stimuli. Regulation of keratinocyte proliferation involves diverse molecules, including growth factors, ions, and hormones. We recently proposed that a proteinase, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) may be added to this list, based on correlative evidence linking expression of uPA and murine epidermal hyperproliferation. Here we report that, during the first 3 d of life, the epidermis from mice that bear a targeted deletion of the uPA gene has a significantly lower proliferative rate than the epidermis from wild-type mice. In contrast, proliferation in the matrix keratinocytes of the hair follicles is not decreased in neonatal uPA-/- mice. Vertical migration of keratinocytes during terminal differentiation was not affected. We therefore conclude that lack of uPA is associated with a decrease in epidermal proliferation.

Protein-kinase-specific inhibitors block Langerhans' cell migration by inhibiting interleukin-1alpha release

Previous studies have shown that depletion of Langerhans' cells (LC) from murine epidermis by the superantigen, staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) involves interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and is inhibitable by agents that block G-protein-associated kinases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific kinase inhibitors block LC depletion by inhibiting IL-1alpha release and to ascertain whether LC depletion by SEA involves cell migration. These goals were addressed by measuring the IL-1alpha release within whole or LC-depleted epidermal cell suspensions in the presence of SEA and/or H-7 (an inhibitor of protein kinase C) or H-8 (an inhibitor of G-protein-associated kinases) and by examining the migration of cells with LC markers in SEA-treated skin sections. The results suggest that LC depletion by SEA involves migration and that this migration is blocked by protein kinase inhibitors, at least in part, through inhibition of SEA-induced IL-1alpha release by epidermal cells.

Contributions of the epidermal growth factor receptor to keratinocyte motility

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor plays a central role in numerous aspects of keratinocyte biology. In normal epidermis, the EGF receptor is important for autocrine growth of this renewing tissue, suppression of terminal differentiation, promotion of cell survival, and regulation of cell migration during epidermal morphogenesis and wound healing. In wounded skin, the EGF receptor is transiently up-regulated and is an important contributor to the proliferative and migratory aspects of wound reepithelialization. In keratinocytic carcinomas, aberrant expression or activation of the EGF receptor is common and has been proposed to play a role in tumor progression. Many cellular processes such as altered cell adhesion, expression of matrix degrading proteinases, and cell migration are common to keratinocytes during wound healing and in metastatic tumors. The EGF receptor is able to regulate each of these cellular functions and we propose that transient and dynamic elevation of EGF receptor during wound healing, or constitutive overexpression in tumors, provides an important contribution to the migratory and invasive potential of keratinocytes.

Protein kinase C-dependent in vivo phosphorylation of prourokinase leads to the formation of a receptor competitive antagonist

We recently reported that in vivo phosphorylation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator on Ser138/303 prevents its catalytic-independent ability to promote myelomonocytic cell adherence and motility. We now show that Ca2+ activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C from rat brain phosphorylates in vitro a peptide corresponding to prourokinase residues 133-143 (DGKKPSSPPEE) and the full-length molecule on Ser138/139. The in vivo involvement of the protein kinase C isoenzyme family is supported by the finding that inhibition of kinase C activity prevents prourokinase phosphorylation on Ser138/303 in A431 human carcinoma cells. Conversely, a short treatment of A431 cells with phorbol myristate acetate increases the extent of phosphorylated prourokinase and, concomitantly, affects its function; under these conditions, the capability of prourokinase to up-regulate U937 monocyte-like cell adherence is severely impaired, although receptor binding is unaltered. By the aid of a "phosphorylation-like" variant (Ser138 to Glu) we show that modification of Ser138 is sufficient to confer to prourokinase the antagonistic properties observed following in vivo stimulation of protein kinase C activity. These observations provide the first evidence that protein kinase C directs the formation of a receptor competitive antagonist by regulating the in vivo phosphorylation state of prourokinase.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)- and scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF)- mediated keratinocyte migration is coincident with induction of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9

Receptor tyrosine kinases are key regulators of cellular function including cell growth, differentiation, migration, and morphogenesis. Disruptions of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways are often associated with changes in cellular proliferative capacity and tumorigenesis. Both receptor-specific and cell type-specific factors may contribute to the ultimate cellular responses observed after receptor activation. In this regard, we find that both normal keratinocytes and their tumorigenic counterparts display differential responses to activation of receptor tyrosine kinases. Multiple ligands were mitogenic for keratinocytes, but only epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), and scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) promoted cell motility as assessed by colony dispersion (scattering) and in vitro reepithelialization. Interestingly, growth factor specificity for motility coincided with ligand-mediated cell invasion through a reconstituted basement membrane and induction of the 92-kDa metalloproteinase (MMP-9) activity as determined by gelatin zymogram analysis. Inhibitors of MMP activity or addition of an MMP-9 neutralizing antibody resulted in the loss of growth factor-induced colony dispersion, suggesting a functional role for MMP-9 induction during this response. Coordinate regulation of MMP-9 induction and the migratory response are likely to contribute to the enhanced invasive potential observed in response to EGF and SF/HGF. Our findings suggest that alternate receptor-mediated signaling pathways leading to differences in gene expression may be involved in complex cellular responses such as colony dispersion or invasion.

The members of the plakin family of proteins recognized by paraneoplastic pemphigus antibodies include periplakin

Sera of patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) characteristically immunoprecipitate five proteins, observations confirmed with the sera examined in this study. The proteins characterized thus far as autoantigens in PNP all belong to the plakin family of proteins and include desmoplakin, the 230 kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen, and envoplakin. The pattern of bands precipitated from metabolically labeled human keratinocyte extracts by each PNP serum was different, suggesting varying titers of antibodies against unique epitopes in various plakin family members. To further characterize this PNP antibody response, we produced fusion proteins of the homologous tail region of five plakin family members, including the recently cloned periplakin. Immunoblotting of equal amounts of each plakin tail-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein with PNP sera revealed a strong reaction with the envoplakin tail domain. Each sera also recognized periplakin, and certain sera recognized desmoplakin and plectin, and, weakly, bullous pemphigoid antigen 1. PNP sera were affinity purified with periplakin and envoplakin tail fusion proteins. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with these affinity purified antibodies revealed shared as well as unique epitopes in the tail domains of these plakins. This study indicates that a homologous region in the carboxy-terminus of plakins, including the newly characterized periplakin, serves as an antigenic site in PNP.

Regulation of the level and glycosylation state of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 during human keratinocyte differentiation

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) is an unusual member of the serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) family which has been implicated in the protection of cells from programmed cell death. Human epidermal keratinocytes synthesize large amounts of PAI-2 in two active forms: glycosylated and non-glycosylated. Calcium (Ca2+), a well-known inducer of numerous aspects of keratinocyte terminal differentiation, increases the steady-state levels of PAI-2 mRNA and protein. As the cultures become more differentiated due to longer incubation with Ca2+, the glycosylated form is preferentially elevated. Surprisingly, glycosylated as well as non-glycosylated PAI-2 remains predominantly cell-associated, in a trypsin-inaccessible form and thus most likely inside the cell. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an inflammatory mediator that induces some markers of keratinocyte differentiation, also increases PAI-2 mRNA and protein levels. Experiments using cultures in which protein kinase C has been downregulated suggest that Ca2+, but not TNF-alpha, acts at least partially through one or more isozymes of this kinase for induction of PAI-2. This is consistent with the finding that the effect of simultaneous addition of Ca2+ plus TNF-alpha is at least additive, compared with addition of either stimulant alone. These data demonstrate that the keratinocyte maintains multiple regulatory pathways for control of PAI-2 expression, at least one of which is related to terminal differentiation.

Pemphigus IgG induces expression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor on the cell surface of cultured keratinocytes

We previously found that the binding of pemphigus IgG to desmogleins caused marked activation of phospholipase C, a transient increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production, and a concomitant increase in the intracellular calcium concentration in DJM-1 cells, a squamous cell carcinoma line. The binding of pemphigus IgG to cell membranes increased the activity of urokinase plasminogen activator in culture medium and induced subsequent cell-cell detachment in DJM-1 cells. Because urokinase plasminogen activator activates the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin by binding to urokinase plasminogen activator receptor evading inhibitors in serum, it is likely that plasmin is generated only in microenvironments adjacent to urokinase plasminogen activator receptor on the cell surface. It is not known whether pemphigus IgG causes acantholysis by inducing urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression on the cell surface and secreting urokinase plasminogen activator in inhibitor-rich environments. We examined the effects of pemphigus IgG on urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression in DJM-1 cells and normal keratinocytes by immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies to urokinase plasminogen activator receptor. IgG were obtained from serum samples from eight patients with bullous pemphigoid, five patients with pemphigus vulgaris, seven patients with pemphigus foliaceus, and eight normal subjects. Pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus IgG significantly increased the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression on the surface of DJM-1 cells and normal keratinocytes after 3- and 7-d incubation compared with normal IgG. These results suggest that enhanced urokinase plasminogen activator activity and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression activates plasmin in the limited cell surface of pemphigus IgG-bound keratinocytes and may contribute to the pathogenesis of differential acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus.